Our Ancestors used Naming
Patterns to help distinguish between the families and to honor their family members. In
most family you will have certain names.They tell you what your family line is like
Jacob, or Samuel or Edward. When Finding out your family line keep in mind, a child was
named after the father but may have a totally different name. His father may be
Peter Jacob his son may be Peter, Jacob, James. Check out what the different
names may be for a particular name. You may look for a Elizabeth Sarah when actually she
went by Sally . Check the middle name as the first name for your search.Our ancestors often used the following naming pattern when selecting
a name for a new child. This explains why certain names are very common in a family line.
Watching for these patterns can help in your genealogy research.
Naming pattern:
1st son = father’s father
2nd son = mother’s father
3 rd son = father
4th son = father’s oldest brother
5th son = father’s second oldest brother or mother’s eldest brother
1st daughter = mother’s mother
2nd daughter = father’s mother
3rd daughter = mother
4th daughter = mother’s oldest sister
5th daughter = mother’s second oldest sister or father’s oldest
sister
It is also common to use:
the mother’s maiden name as a second name;
the surname of close friends as a second name;
give another child exactly the same name as a previous child who had died; or
give a child the name of a relative or friend who had recently died.
Search this
site Naming Customs Contact Us